Loading Page...

What day of the week has the most flight delays?

Tuesday was the clear winner with the least cancellations and the least flight delays, with Monday close behind. According to the study, the best days of the week to fly are Tuesday and Monday, and the worst days of the week to fly are Thursday and Friday.



People Also Ask

For easier leisure travel, consider Wednesday and Thursday, excludes Thanksgiving Weekend. Saturdays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays also come in as the cheapest days to fly, because they're not popular travel days.

MORE DETAILS

According to data gathered by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the best time to fly is between 6 and 7 a.m. Flights with scheduled departures in that timeframe arrived just 8.6 minutes late, on average. Meanwhile, flights that take off before 6—or between 7 and 8 in the morning—are fairly punctual, too.

MORE DETAILS

If you're flying internationally, Wednesday and Thursday are the cheapest days to fly. Wednesday is, once again, in the number one spot! But Thursday can offer great savings if a Wednesday flight isn't available.

MORE DETAILS

Pick Your Days Trying to save money by traveling on a certain day of the week can be hit-or-miss with flights to Europe. It's often cheaper to fly mid-week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in particular, but sometimes you can get the same mid-week fare on a Saturday.

MORE DETAILS

According to CheapAir.com's 2018 Airfare study that looked at 917 million different flights listed on its site determined that for Europe it is best to book between 1.5 month and 8 months from your travel date (160 days before is the sweet spot) with July being the most expensive month to book and Monday, Tuesday and ...

MORE DETAILS

Sleep Foundation notes that jet lag happens when we travel across three or more time zones. And, there's bad news for anyone traveling from the U.S. to Europe: jet lag is worse when you travel east than it is when you travel west. Why is this?

MORE DETAILS

Travel on Thanksgiving Day Across travel days for the week before and after Thanksgiving, the holiday was the lowest-traffic day every year over the past three years.

MORE DETAILS

Flying on weekdays, mainly Tuesdays and Wednesdays, results in lower airfare than on weekends. Additionally, early-morning and late-night flights are often cheaper than peak-time flights. Be open to traveling on different days and at varying times to have a better chance of finding an affordable flight.

MORE DETAILS

Nighttime or morning flights are statistically better for turbulence, compared to those in the day.

MORE DETAILS

Beyond delays and cancelations, early morning flights have the added perk of being less prone to turbulence. According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, most thunderstorms tend to occur in the afternoon.

MORE DETAILS

Flight tracking apps and websites — FlightAware, Flightstats, and Flight Radar all track the departure and arrival of most commercial flights and are, without doubt, the best websites to check if your flight has been delayed, cancelled or diverted.

MORE DETAILS

Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you: Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late. Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.

MORE DETAILS

Saturday and Monday flights can help you avoid the Sunday rush. Saturdays and Mondays are the next cheapest days to fly after midweek flights. The average airfare is about 13%-15% lower on these days.

MORE DETAILS

(NerdWallet) – Most weeks of the year, Friday is the busiest day for air travel, and Tuesday is the least busy day. During the holidays, though, that doesn't necessarily hold true.

MORE DETAILS

Beyond delays and cancelations, early morning flights have the added perk of being less prone to turbulence.

MORE DETAILS

While it all comes down to your preferences, daytime flying has the upper hand when it comes to visibility. Because of the sunlight, any possible obstructions, such as rocks or mountains, are far easier to spot, making the likelihood of accidents much less and daytime flying the safer option by far.

MORE DETAILS

Skyscanner is highly reliable. And the reason why is this… Skyscanner is an independent company with the sole goal of helping you find the best option for your personal travel plans. Every month, over 100 million customers trust Skyscanner to help them find the best deals on flights, hotels, and car rentals.

MORE DETAILS

Winter has higher winds, blizzards and more clear air turbulence. Spring has fast-moving fronts and high winds, causing severe squall lines. Each of these events can cause turbulence.

MORE DETAILS

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remains the busiest airport in the world with 5.2 million seats in September 2023. The composition of the Global Top 10 Busiest Airports is also the same as last month but there are a few changes to the rankings.

MORE DETAILS

Least Busy Days Since the vast majority of travelers will try to book their flights for a convenient Friday evening, Tuesdays and Wednesdays emerge as the best days to fly without crowds. If you can extend your vacation during the weekend, that's always ideal.

MORE DETAILS

Weekend vs weekdays It is worth doing some research into the airport you are flying from. However, Tuesday and Wednesday are often less busy. This is because you have to take more days off work to fly mid-week, which people are usually reluctant to do.

MORE DETAILS

How long jet lag lasts will depend on several factors. These include how far you traveled, your body's unique rhythms and your overall health. Many people who experience jet lag feel better a few days after arriving to their destination. For some people, it can take up to one week to feel fully back to themselves.

MORE DETAILS

Try to Sleep During the Flight
One of the best ways to minimize jet lag is to try and sleep during the flight. Using earplugs, eye masks, or noise-cancellation headphones helps to block out light and noise.

MORE DETAILS

Limit naps in the days following your arrival. If you need it, taking a short nap can help you stay awake during the day. But napping for more than 30 minutes can keep you from falling asleep at night. Try to stay awake until your normal bedtime and get up on time the next day.

MORE DETAILS